Process/Product

Sometimes I feel like I am just spinning my creative wheels, not able to really get started because I don’t know what I want to say.  The past couple of weeks have been like that, drifty and discouraging.  

detail, work in progress, textile paint monoprint on cotton, machine stitching

A couple of helpful posts by artists whose work I admire have given me renewed enthusiasm.  Jane Dunnewold is a guest artist this month over at And Then We Set It On Fire.  Her essay on using the right tools lifted my spirits as she reminded me that the work I have been doing recently – sketching, making new stencils and masks, thinking – is by no means wasted time but indeed, critical to creative success.  

masks coated with gel medium drying on waxed paper

detail, textile paint monoprint on hand dyed cotton

Yesterday’s post at The Fairy Yellow Bug Queen also cheered me.  Norma writes: ‘Nothing is perfect, in life, or in art. I am ignoring the imperfect bits and won't bore you by pointing them out. My complete purpose in doing these pieces is to learn. I am having so much fun…’.

detail, textile paint monoprint with hand and machine stitching

detail, textile paint monoprint with beads and machine stitching

I am off to the studio today with an attitude of gratitude for the creative PROCESS rather than a demand of myself for a steady stream of PRODUCT.  Thanks to all of you in Blogland for your contagious enthusiasm for art and life with all its beauty and magic.  I appreciate you!

Fiberactions Challenge Details

Dynaflow color sample 1

Dynaflow color sample 2

Dynaflow color sample 3

Dynaflow color sample 4

Dynaflow color sample 5

My palette

'She Wore Her Rabbit Hat and Felt Confident' - Styrofoam plate print and Dynaflow textile paint on commercial cotton, 8.5" x 5.5"

I never take time to do much pre-planning when it comes to color, no mixing colors in advance, no color studies - but for the latest Fiberactions Challenge, that is exactly what I did.  You can see the two pieces I completed for the Challenge along with the other participants dynamic responses over at the Fiberactions Blog. 

My gelatin printmaking efforts have been making the move to fabric, which makes me glad, as I do so love stitching in addition to printing/painting.

'She Wore Her Rabbit Hat and Felt Confident, II' - intaglio technique gelatin print and Dynaflow textile paint on cotton, 8.5"x5.5"

Critique

Work on paintings for my show with Pia in Juneau next month has been proceeding apace with the other projects due this month.  Friday is the opening reception for our annual Women's Invitational exhibit at the museum.  (I will be posting more on that later in the week).  In the mean time, I offer a couple of details from one of the Juneau paintings.

'Below and Above' (working title); detail 1; acrylic and paper on canvas

'Below and Above' - detail 2

Working alone in a vacuum most of the time, it is possible to loose perspective - to question if the paintings are strong - if I am deluding myself - wasting my time.  BUT - Saturday I had a most valuable critique session with a fellow painter whose work I greatly admire.  I feel completely validated and energized to carry on with this body of work ( as if I had a choice anyway)! I look forward to sharing these paintings with you in early December when I am ready to get on the ferry and take them north to the gallery in Juneau. 

Versatile Drawing

It's been some time since I posted any of my drawings...

...mostly because the drawings have been...

...too much outpouring my guts...

...diary rather than journal or painting.

Today I snapped the ones that seem safe to share with all.

Do you use drawing as a way to process your worries and fears?  I find it very helpful, myself.  Versatile drawing!  Much to be grateful for!

As I Left It

'Passing Over' acrylic collage on paper; 12"x9"

detail 1

detail 2

My work table as I left it mid-month.

I am anxious to return to the studio tomorrow, looking forward to continuing the work for our Juneau exhibit in December as well as a couple of group shows here in town this fall.  My creative cup feels full to overflowing from the brief time of traveling just ended.  Are you flowing?

Epiphany

detail, acrylic collage on paper

Years ago my parents and I took a trip to Paris in celebration of my newly-minted MFA degree - a once-in-a-lifetime trip which I will always treasure in my heart.  Among the many memories, our visit to the Musee Picasso stands out for the epiphany I had there regarding art making. 

'The Trumpet Shall Sound' - acrylic collage on paper, 9"x12"

As we wandered through the extensive collection of the Great Man's work, I realized that it didn't matter if my work never sold or received any public recognition at all, but rather that the MAKING was the thing.  The joy of creating is enough.  Huzzah!  Epiphany!

'Vessel' - acrylic collage on paper, 9"x12"

Grrl + Dog has a brilliant post this week on the same topic. Ever had a maker's epiphany?  I would love to hear about it.  Happy making, all!

Back in the studio as usual on a Thursday - made coffee and placed an order for supplies with Daniel Smith in Seattle - and then took a dive: the tiny board books I picked up at Salvation and gessoed months ago became a deep river which carried me along all day. Here's a glimpse of the work in progress.  I can't wait to get back in the morning!

acrylic paint and paper on cardboard, about 2.5"x2.5"

acrylic paint and paper on cardboard

acrylic paint and paper on cardboard

Daily Drawing

'Relative of Snow Goggles' - watercolor and pigma pen in 8x6 'gamma' sketchbook

I checked Veronica Lawlor's 'One Drawing A Day' out from our library and began going through the exercises there a couple days ago.  It is fun to have a little direction and focus for a change in my daily sketchbook drawings.  Usually I work totally out of my head, as in the drawing above.  Veronica has me actually drawing what I see and it's good.

Here are the first two exercises in the book, according to my eye:

our kindling bin, contour drawing in 8x6 'gamma'

This is a shell the Sailor brought me, dip pen in 8x6 'gamma'

How do you change it up for yourself? 

Happy mid-week to all!

Daily Drawing

If you have been reading here for awhile, you know that I am an advocate of drawing, and make it a priority each evening, stopping whatever I am doing by about 9:30pm to dive into my sketchbook for awhile before putting the cats out and climbing the stairs for the night.  (Flossy sleeps in her kennel).  This sketchbook time is valuable for lots of reasons - here is a partial list:

1. Drawing is very relaxing.
2. Drawing keeps my hand practiced and my eye sharp - important since I have the Mighty Mighty Day Job three days a week instead of studio time.
3. Drawing helps me figure out issues I am dealing with in my studio work.
4. Drawing is a way of recording the events of my day and my inner emotional landscape.
5. Drawing is PLAY!

Here is what I have drawn in the past week - notice the variation in style which I think is a product of allowing myself to wander freely about the page (or my unbalanced mental state)!

 I am working in a 9"x6" (22.86cmx15.24cm) Aquabee Super Deluxe book with rather rough paper.  The advantage is that it takes wet media very well, however I don't like it as well for my Prismacolor pencils, which feel better to me on a smooth sheet. 
Happy weekend to you all - we are awash in slush this morning here.   I am off to the studio where it is always sunny!

Tyvek, Painting, and Drawing

The busy harbor drew me out for a noon walk.  It was all blue and silver out there, a contrast from the colors I was working with in my studio.

crab gear

I am working on my piece for the local wearable art show coming up next month.  Last week I made a scale model.  Today I started painting the real thing, a very large piece of Tyvek.

Tyvek is used as a vapor barrier in house construction, but it makes a dandy painting surface.

I started with primer over the branding.

The paint is acrylic enamel  - I will be covering both sides.  Got this side completed today

.

Waiting for the paint to dry on the Tyvek gave me time to carry on with a couple of new smaller paintings I started last week.  Here's a look at one when I stopped for the day.

A professor I learned much from used to say 'painting is novel, drawing is journal.  I think about that a lot, since my drawings are so different from my paintings.  My goal with this series is to bring more of my drawing-sense into my paintings.

Do you have a distinctly different style from drawing to painting?

Reflections While Shirking

Reflections at year end as we enjoy some quiet days off from the usual routine:

In the studio, fooling around on a piece for the Fiberactions challenge (due on January 15), feeling weary, stuck and empty-headed… 

detail of work in progress: stamping on vintage kimono silk

detail of work in progress: stamping on eco-dyed raw silk

 

This will pass, I know, but it’s uncomfortable as always when beginning to work again after a hiatus.  Others have wisely suggested that at the start of a break, it’s helpful to leave something in progress waiting for you – I wish I had!  Experience tells me that it will be ok, just get in there and make some chaos – the doors to my imagination will fly open again.

 

We have taken some good walks on these afternoons while I am shirking my studio, and I believe this time off will play into the next body of work.

 

 

What is your remedy for being blahhked?

By the way, thank you so much to all who read, comment and follow my blog - I plan to have a give away early in the new year to celebrate my anniversary.